Lagos emerged as the overall best state at the 27th Edition of the National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) competition in Abuja on Friday.

Lagos also won the best overall JETS award, with 200 students from 20 states participating, and the overall best in the quiz competition.

During the weeklong event, the students showcased their innovations, including an automatic fire detector and an online election application to enable voting from the diaspora.

They also showcased drones, a technology that would help address farmers and herders’ clashes in the country.

At the closing ceremony, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, described technology and innovation as drivers for socioeconomic growth and sustainability.

Mr Sani-Gwarzo said Nigeria had the potential to achieve sustainable growth through technology. He encouraged the students to continue to utilise their inherent talents for national development.

The director of Science and Technology in the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Grace Akinfoyiwa, who was elated, attributed the achievement of the Lagos team to the dedication of the students and support from the state government.

JETS competition was inaugurated in 1988 to expose students to technology, aiming to solve societal problems.

(NAN)